President Comments on Defense Council Meeting: I would like the Government to decide on procurement of fighter jets as soon as possible
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended a ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the formation of the Support Command in the “Tigers 1st Guards Brigade – Croatia” Barracks, after which he commented on today’s meeting of the Defense Council, where the selection and procurement of multipurpose fighter jets for the Croatian Armed Forces was discussed. “I would like the Government to make a decision as soon as possible,” said the President.
The President said that the Defense Council meeting was held professionally. “I heard someone say today that it was unpleasant and cold with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament, but it was not unpleasant at all. It was short and clear. I think we understood each other very well,” said President Milanović.
The President did not want to comment to the press which option Croatia would choose: “No comment. I would like the Government to make a decision as soon as possible. The process has been good so far. It hasn’t been compromised; there have been no information leaks. Eventually, the cost will have to be presented to the Croatian public. We can’t say that we don’t know how much it costs. We’ll see what we get and at what price. If it’s an American jet, it hasn’t gone into production yet. If it’s French or Swedish, the situation is similar,” he said.
“The most important thing is to have the jets in 2024 at the latest. Croatia should not be without its own resources, not for a day. What we are doing here is making sure that our capacities are not empty for even a day. I hope that the Government will make a decision before Armed Forces Day. It could have been made earlier, but maybe not after New Year because of the earthquakes and everything else,” said President Milanović.
Asked by reporters whether today’s meeting was the beginning of the end of quarrels between him and the Prime Minister, President Milanović replied: “I do not know whether today’s meeting is the beginning of the end of quarrels. I am not the leader of the opposition; I congratulated everyone who won the elections. There has been a change of government in Zagreb. That is a major change. Armed Forces Day is coming up again, there is fumbling around with the protocol. I beg you not to put these things on the same level, (Prime Minister) Plenković and I are not the same,” said the President.
“On Armed Forces Day, I come first according to the protocol and I am offering my company, above all to the Prime Minister. The wreath is on behalf of the Republic of Croatia, it is a wreath on behalf of the state. How do you view the approach of a party that is rejecting this all the time, versus the approach of a party that is constantly offering this as the lowest common denominator?,” asked President Milanović.